In the Huddle

IN THE

SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2013

SYRACUSE VS TULANE

HUDDLE

NEXT WAVE

After blowout win, Syracuse tries to move to .500 SPEEDING UP

Syracuse tries to get back to its up-tempo offense against Tulane. Page 3

HEAVY HEART

Tulane’s Lou Groza Awardwinning kicker deals with the death of his father.

Page 4

FROM THE INSIDERS

A beat writer from the Tulane Hullabaloo offers his insight on the Green Wave.

Page 5

BY THE NUMBERS

A statistical look at how Syracuse stacks up against Tulane. Page 8

MUST WIN

Syracuse needs to win on Saturday to stay in the bowl hunt, beat writer Trevor Hass argues.

Page 11

2 sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa p e r of s y r ac use , n e w yo r k

Casey Fabris

Maddy Berner

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

Sports Editor Presentation Director Photo Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Photo Editor Design Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor

David Wilson Lizzie Hart Chase Gaewski Stephen Bailey Trevor Hass Sam Maller Lindsay Dawson Phil D’Abbraccio Jesse Dougherty

front cover photo illustration by jenny jakubowski | staff photographer

CONTACT US Editor@dailyorange.com News@dailyorange.com Pulp@dailyorange.com Sports@dailyorange.com Opinion@dailyorange.com Design@dailyorange.com Photo@dailyorange.com Ads@dailyorange.com

EDITORIAL 315 443 9798 BUSINESS 315 443 2315 GENERAL FAX 315 443 3689

General Manager Peter Waack IT Director Mike Escalante IT Support Lars Nielsen IT Support Matthew Hawkins Business Intern Tim Bennett Advertising Design Manager Abby Legge Advertising Manager William Leonard Advertising Representative Mike Friedman Advertising Representative Carolina Garcia Advertising Representative Gonzalo Garcia Advertising Representative Emily Myers Advertising Representative Elaina Powless Advertising Representative Ada Turemis Advertising Representative Paula Vallina Advertising Designer Olivia Accardo Advertising Designer Andi Burger Advertising Intern Lidia Medina Advertising Copywriter Sarah Cookson Circulation Manager Jared Cucinotta Student Circulation Manager Michael Hu

DAILYORANGE.COM Last time they played

ADVERTISING 315 443 9794

Syracuse outlasted Tulane in New Orleans.

CLASSIFIED ADS 315 443 2869

Paying their respects

The Daily Orange is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 744 Ostrom Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2013 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Orange is distributed on and around campus with the first two copies complimentary. Each additional copy costs $1.

The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidiary or associated with Syracuse University.

All contents Š 2013 The Daily Orange Corporation

Friends and family honored former SU Athletics employee Rob Edson at a funeral on Thursday.

On the beat

Beat writers Stephen Bailey, Trevor Hass and David Wilson break down SyracuseTulane.

Check dailyorange.com for weekend coverage and follow @DOsports on Twitter for up-tothe-minute content.

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

3

ziniu chen | staff photographer JEROME SMITH and the rest of the Syracuse offense looks to pick up the pace against Tulane. Scott Shafer plans for the Orange to run 80-85 plays against the Green Wave.

NEED FOR SPEED Syracuse seeks up-tempo offense against Tulane

By David Wilson

T

SPORTS EDITOR

he offense has only come in flashes for Syracuse.

It first surfaced on the opening drive of the second half in Evanston, Ill., when Drew Allen marched Syracuse down the field on nine plays for a touchdown against thenNo. 19 Northwestern.

But not again until the fourth drive against Wagner. This time Terrel Hunt came on at quarterback. He strung together 12 plays lasting 4:44 for the first touchdown of what would become an offensive stampede for Syracuse.

“I heard we were going through an identity crisis,” running back Jerome Smith said.

With a new quarterback and a Football Championship Series opponent in the fold, the identity-less Orange put on an offensive clinic, pouring on 54 points in a shutout win over the Seahawks. Now, the offense finally has some momentum as it heads into Saturday’s matchup with Tulane at 12:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

In the seven drives that Hunt manned the

offense against Wagner, SU had a rare pace about it. In the season opener, the offense couldn’t find any semblance of a rhythm. The next week, some of the kinks were gone — but only briefly.

As Hunt replaced Allen after three possessions on Saturday, the offense did what it was supposed to.

“We all huddled up and said, ‘Hey, let’s get on the same page. Let’s go take care of business,’” Smith said.

That meant less time between snaps. Against Penn State, Syracuse ran one play every 23.7 seconds. Against the Wildcats, that number was down to 20.6.

During Hunt’s one drive against NU, the Orange snapped the ball every 14.9 seconds. His first drive against Wagner was a methodical one, but after that he was already running the offense at a similar pace as Allen was.

“It’s all about tempo and it’s knowing our assignments while moving fast, and that’s what we did,” said H-back Ashton Broyld, “so we got to continue to get better at that.”

That was the identity SU had last year, and

the one it’s still trying to perfect this year. In 2012, Syracuse was one of the most up-tempo teams in the nation, ranking in the top 20 in plays per game.

It all led to one of the most prolific offenses in SU history. Having Ryan Nassib, Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales certainly helped, but it was the sum of the parts and how well the unit executed that made it elite.

In 2012, Syracuse averaged more than 80 plays per game, even after struggling for the first four weeks of the season.

This year’s Orange team isn’t far behind that mark, but the rout of Wagner skews that average up a bit to 78.6.

When SU finally hits its stride this season, head coach Scott Shafer would like this year’s version of Syracuse to be even faster — 80-85 plays per game is his ultimate goal.

“Once we really get this thing going,” Shafer said.

At times the Orange has shown what an efficient machine it has the potential to be. The running backs are dashing through holes.

The wide receivers are running their routes

and the quarterback — whoever it is — hits them in stride.

Even Allen, now the backup, executed perhaps the best drive of the season to open the second half against NU. SU scored just 2:28 seconds into the third quarter, snapping the ball every 16.4 seconds.

The Northwestern defense was caught off balance and Syracuse scored with ease.

Sets like those came all too infrequently, but Shafer is already seeing a difference. He’s seen them improve each week — it’s evident on film and on the stat sheet.

“We had a lot of new pieces and parts, a lot of new faces, a lot of new names replacing a lot of very good players that broke a lot of records here,” Shafer said. “We knew it would be a process.”

The explosion only came against an FCS foe, but it was a tuneup that the Orange should have had all along.

While most teams were starting against weaker competition, SU faced a pair of Big 10 opponents. When most of the nation was shifting to stiffer games, Syracuse was still searching for its identity.

It’s not quite firm yet, but now the Orange at least knows what it is.

“We caught a rhythm as an offense and it led into Saturday,” Broyld said. “We just got comfortable. We’re getting the hang of things.

“We’re not where we want to be. We want to just feel that we can do that every day. We have a long way to go, but we’re going to get there.

Slowly but surely.” dbwilson@syr.edu @DBWilson2

4 sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

LEGGING IT OUT

By Sam Blum

C

STAFF WRITER

airo Santos lined up his kick and booted it through the uprights. It was the most important kick of his career, and it didn’t even count.

It was during the last practice of fall

camp during Santos’ freshman season, right before Tulane’s first game. Santos and Ryan Rome were in a heated competition for the starting job. Santos made all his attempts, and Rome did not.

“It really humbles me that it came down to that one day, that one practice that I did better,”

courtesy of tulane athletics CAIRO SANTOS earned college football’s award for best kicker last year and has drilled field goals from as far as 57 yards deep, but his status is in doubt for Saturday’s game.

After improbable path to Division-I kicking, Santos deals with sudden death of father Santos said. “You never know what can happen with that one kick. That was one moment in my freshman year that was really defining.”

Santos has come a long way since that moment. Now a senior kicker for Tulane, he won the Lou Groza Award last year for the nation’s best kicker. He went 21-for-21 on fieldgoal attempts last season, including a 57-yarder, and has yet to miss one in 2013.

But Santos will enter Saturday’s game with a heavy heart. He learned Monday that his father, a stunt pilot, was killed in a plane crash the day before while in Brazil. Santos traveled home Monday for his father’s funeral on Tuesday. Santos’ host father David Burnett and special teams coach Barry Lamb both said he plans to be ready to play against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.

“I do believe it’s going to mean more to him,” Burnett said. “It’s going to be a struggle. Flying to Brazil and back and showing up on Friday to try and play football, but I do believe it will kind of be in remembrance of his father, and his father would want him to be there.”

If Santos does play against the Orange, it will be another defining moment in a football career that, six years ago, seemed improbable.

He came to the United States from Brazil as a 15-year-old soccer-playing high school sophomore with limited English skills and no background in football.

When he first arrived with his host family in St. Augustine, Fla., as part of an exchange program, Santos said he was very homesick.

He wanted to be in contact with his parents and

sister, Talita, all the time.

“It was a lot harder. When we first started, when I was 15, that first one or two months it was really hard,” Santos said. “I wanted to Skype them or call them almost every day.”

While Santos has been in the United States, the Burnetts have acted as a second family. He was only supposed to stay a year with a program that was designed to help him learn English.

Now he speaks the language fluently.

Even though Santos came for English, he stayed for football — a sport he knew nothing about when he arrived in America.

After his friends saw him kick a football, they encouraged him to try out for the team midway though the season. When his high school coach saw him make a 50-yarder, he said he had the opportunity to turn his right foot into a college scholarship.

“My coaches told me when I tried out that I had range,” Santos said. “I could already kick from 50 yards. They told me that was impressive and something that would be very easy to get a scholarship to if you have the talent and performance.”

About midway through his sophomore season of high school, Santos asked his host family if he could stay another year. The Burnetts didn’t need to think twice. He ended up sticking around for his last three years of high school and continues to spend all of his vacations from school with them.

“He asked if we would consider taking him

SEE SANTOS PAGE 16

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

By Stephen Bailey

Q&A

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Syracuse hosts Tulane on Saturday, in search of its second straight home win. The Daily Orange spoke with David Holden, a beat writer for the Tulane Hullabaloo, about Green Wave (2-1) celebrities Nick Montana and Nico Marley, as well as how Tulane’s offensive scheme matches up with the Orange (1-2).

The Daily Orange: How has Nick Montana handled the role of starting quarterback on and off the field?

David Holden: He seems to be improving each game. His first game looked a little skittish, but his last two games have looked much better. He’s beginning to develop a really good rapport with Ryan Grant, and he looks really good throwing the deep ball. As for his personality, even though he’s only been here maybe half a semester, he’s already a pretty vocal leader on the team. I talked to a few of the players Wednesday and they were saying that he’s definitely the most vocal on the offense and he’s definitely leading the huddle and he’s got a pretty good command of what’s going on on the offensive side of the ball.

The D.O.: Grant seems to be the strongest offensive threat. What are some of his strengths and how does he mesh with Montana?

D.H.: Grant is probably the best player on Tulane. Right now he’s really quick. He cuts in and out of his breaks ridiculously fast. Teams are having to double cover him to be able to stop

4 1 t p e S SAT

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

5

with Green Wave beat writer David Holden of Tulane Hullabaloo

him. Right now the deep ball is doing really well, especially with Montana. They’re hooking up three or four times a game, throwing the ball deep. And the run after the catch, he’s always been really good at that. Grant is definitely Montana’s go-to guy. I think he was targeted probably 10 times or more a game, and Montana has really developed a good rapport with him.

And Montana doesn’t really seem to have that with any other receiver.

The D.O.: I know Tulane was very pass-heavy last year, as no running back accrued even 300 yards. Is the team making more of an effort to run the ball?

D.H.: I would definitely say they’re trying to run the ball more. Both Orleans Darkwa and Rob Kelley have actually done a pretty good job this year. They both are combined for 300 yards already, which is much better than it was last year. It’s still not to the point where I’m sure coaches would like it to be, but they’re definitely trying to run the ball more. In the second game, they were down quite a bit so they kind of abandoned the run in that game, but other than that the run game has looked really well. They’ve rushed for over 100 yards in two of the three games, but Montana has passed probably too much already this year. In Week 2 he passed for the most passes he’s ever attempted in any game at any level so they definitely need to cut back passing the ball a little more.

The D.O.: What have you heard about Cairo Santos regarding his status for the game and how do you see the game playing out differ-

29 t p e S - SUN

ently if he’s not able to play?

freshman linebacker?

D.H.: I haven’t heard anything about his status. I went to a press conference Tuesday, and right now they’re not sure if he’s going to play in Saturday’s game.

Curtis Johnson wouldn’t reveal how far his replacement could kick so I think it’ll definitely have an effect on the game when you can rely on Santos to hit from 50-plus yards, as opposed to Steven Broccoli, who might not be able to hit from 40.

D.H.: I think he’s a pretty quiet guy right now. He’s a freshman. He’s only been here for a few weeks, and I think he’s just starting to get acclimated to the team. I think it’s definitely shown in his play. The first game he didn’t look quite right out there, but in the last two games he’s played more and he’s played a lot better. He got a fumble recovery last week and he’s really solidified the linebacking corps, a group that’s looked pretty poor at times this year.

The D.O.: What’s your take on Nico Marley? Is he getting playing time as a

sebail01@syr.edu @stephen_bailey1

Syracuse University Specials $2 off Lunch with S.U. ID Fri., Sat., Sun. 11:30 - 3:00 e Area’s Best Indian Food for Catering • Take-out • Dine-in 4467 E. Genesee St. Dewitt, NY 13214 (315) 445-5555

$2 off Monday Dinner Buffet with S.U. ID Free Delivery for Catering Small Group Catering Available Free Dosa: Friday to Sunday

3 Miles from Campus, on the way to Wegman’s!

6 sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

@dosports

HEISMAN WATCH courtesy of clemson athletics TAJH BOYD has made an early case for this season’s Heisman Trophy, leading Clemson to a victory over then-No. 5 Georgia in the Tigers’ season opener. Boyd has yet to throw an interception while spearheading No. 3 Clemson to a 4-0 record to start the year.

JOHNNY MANZIEL

63-for-89, 984 yards, 11 TD, 3 Int Although drama may follow him off the field, Manziel’s early-season, on-field production behind center is undeniable. In just 2.5 games, he’s already thrown 11 touchdowns — nearly halfway to the 26 he tossed in his Heisman-winning freshman season. Even with the 49-42 loss to top-ranked Alabama on Saturday, Manziel was still the most impressive player on the field. Love him or hate him, Manziel will always be a Heisman Trophy candidate as long as he’s wearing a Texas A&M uniform.

TAJH BOYD

56-for-90, 687 yards, 6 TD, 0 Int

Syracuse will get a pretty good look at just how legitimate a Heisman contender Boyd is when it hosts the Tigers on Oct. 5. Boyd led Clemson to two quick wins to start the season, including an upset of then-No. 5 Georgia. In that game he threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two more. Boyd’s ability to throw and run the football will help give him a leg up in a season where quarterbacks rule the Heisman landscape.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER

62-for-88, 1,002 yards, 10 TD, 1 Int The junior has thrown for more than 1,000 yards after Louisville’s first three games.

Against Ohio in Week 1, he completed 82.1 percent of his passes to uphold his reputation as one of the most accurate passers in

college football. Unfortunately for Bridgewater, a sloppy Week 3 performance against Kentucky did him no favors in the Heisman race. And with Louisville boasting just the country’s 90th most difficult schedule, Bridgewater will need consistent blowouts to solidify his candidacy.

MARCUS MARIOTA

49-for-82, 889 yards, 7 TD, 0 Int

Mariota was at the back of the conversation when the season started. Three weeks later, he is must-see TV. The sophomore is the nation’s 35th best rusher — as a quarterback. That’s the second-best for a signal caller behind Brigham Young’s Taysom Hill.

The Hawaiian Mariota averages 17.5 yards SEE HEISMAN PAGE 16

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

POLLS

QUICK HITS

ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME

32.3 21.0

32.67 23.67

RUSHING YARDS GAINED PER GAME

110.7

146.7

PASSING YARDS GAINED PER GAME

237.3

283.0

TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS PER GAME

348.0

429.7

RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME

134.7

105.3

PASSING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME

235.3

235.0

TOTAL YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME

370

340.3

POINTS PER GAME

1. ALABAMA 6. Louisiana State 7. Louisville 8. Florida State 9. Georgia 10. Texas A&M

2. OREGON

3. CLEMSON 4. OHIO STATE 5. STANFORD

11. Oklahoma State 12. South Carolina 13. UCLA 14. Oklahoma 15. Michigan

16. Miami (Fla.) 17. Washington 18. Northwestern 19. Florida 20. Baylor

21. Ole Miss 22. Notre Dame 23. Arizona State 24. Wisconsin 25. Texas Tech

USA TODAY COACHES POLL

1. ALABAMA 6. Louisville 7. Louisiana State 8. Florida State 9. Texas A&M 10. Georgia

2. OREGON

3. OHIO STATE 4. CLEMSON

11. Oklahoma State 12. Oklahoma 13. South Carolina 14. Michigan 15. UCLA

16. Northwestern 17. Miami (Fla.) 18. Florida 19. Baylor 20. Washington

5. STANFORD

21. Notre Dame 22. Ole Miss 23. Arizona State 24. Michigan State 25. Fresno State

7

8 sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

SYRACUSE VS. TULANE

Grant is far and away Tulane’s most potent offensive weapon and we’ve seen Lyn struggle against talented wideouts twice already this year.

KEON LYN CB

RYAN GRANT WR

SATURDAY, 12:30 P.M., MSG Montana is the crux of Tulane’s pass-happy offense. He’s thrown the ball 97 times in just three games for 706 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

MARQUIS SPRUILL LB

STARTING LINEUPS

28

NICK MONTANA QB

3

38 Smith has five touchdowns through three games this year. He’ll look to add to that total against an inconsistent Green Wave linebacking corps that features reggae legend Bob Marley’s grandson.

8

93

3

NICO MARLEY LB

JEROME SMITH RB

35 96

52

TULANE DEFENSIVE LINE

2

DID YOU KNOW?

23

In a series dating back to 1975, Syracuse leads Tulane 7-1. The Green Wave’s only win came in 1990, when it beat the Orange 26-24.

6

18

Tulane quarterback Nick Montana is the son of NFL great Joe Montana.

55

1

Tulane linebacker Nico Marley is the grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley.

TUL

20 94

48 92 60

78

35 57

Syracuse is going for the 700th victory in program history, which is 15th all time among Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

Tulane’s victory over Louisiana Tech last week was its first win in a Conference USA opener since 2005.

94

88 68 66 65 72 11 28 26

The Tulane front four includes two senior Louisiana State transfers as well as Julius Warmsley, who Scott Shafer noted in his press conference Thursday.

SYRACUSE OFFENSIVE LINE

11

59 10

THEY SAID IT

90 68

72

SYR

45

“We just got comfortable. We’re getting the hang of things. The little things, which are going to make us a better team, we kind of figured out what they were. We were able to move the ball.”

Ashton Broyld

SYRACUSE H-BACK

“He definitely came in with a game plan. He wanted to do things. He did everything he was supposed to do and got out with a win.”

SYRACUSE OFFENSE 10 QB TERREL HUNT 45 RB JEROME SMITH 1 H-Back ASHTON BROYLD 88 WR JARROD WEST 18 WR CHRISTOPHER CLARK 85 TE BECKETT WALES 60 LT SEAN HICKEY 55 LG ROB TRUDO 59 C MACKY MACPHERSON 68 RG NICK ROBINSON 72 RT IVAN FOY

TULANE DEFENSE 48 DE ROYCE LAFRANCE 92 DT JULIUS WARMSLEY 94 NT CHRIS DAVENPORT 90 DE JEREMY PEEPLES 57 MLB ZACH DAVIS 20 WLB NICO MARLEY 13 NKL DERRICK STROZIER 22 CB JORDAN SULLEN 35 SS SAM SCOFIELD 2 FS DARION MONROE 6 CB LORENZO DOSS

TULANE OFFENSE 11 QB NICK MONTANA 26 TB ORLEANS DARKW 28 FB ROB KELLEY 80 WR JUSTYN SHACKL 3 WR RYAN GRANT 88 TE MATT MARFISI 68 LT ARTURO UZDAVIN 66 LG NATHAN SHIENL 65 C ZACH MORGAN 72 RG RIO MARES 78 RT TODD JACQUET

Jerome Smith

SYRACUSE RUNNING BACK ON QUARTERBACK TERREL HUNT

UP NEXT >>

CLEMSON

Oct. 5, TBD

AT NC STATE

Oct. 12, TBD

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

83.3

Terrel Hunt’s completion percentage in Saturday’s win over Wagner.

G PLUS

116

Receiving yards per game for Tulane wide receiver Ryan Grant through three games this year.

9

712-332

Ratio of Tulane’s total passing yards to rushing yards.

80

11

LANE ON OFFENSE

Sacks allowed by Tulane’s offensive line.

57

Career long field goal made by Tulane kicker Cairo Santos, whose status is questionable for Saturday.

22 85

88

RACUSE ON OFFENSE

SYRACUSE DEFENSE 93 DE MICAH ROBINSON 52 NT ERIC CRUME WA 96 DT JAY BROMLEY LEFORD 94 DE ROBERT WELSH 35 OLB DYSHAWN DAVIS 11 MLB MARQUIS SPRUILL 38 OLB CAMERON LYNCH NIS 8 CB KEON LYN LE 3 SS DURRELL ESKRIDGE 28 FS JEREMI WILKES 9 CB RI’SHARD ANDERSON

BEAT WRITER PREDICTIONS DAVID WILSON Syracuse 38, Tulane 28 Hang 10 Syracuse keeps its offensive rhythm with Terrel Hunt in the fold as the Orange outlasts Tulane in a slightly more crowded Carrier Dome.

Trevor Hass Syracuse 24, Tulane 20 Barely riding the Wave Syracuse squeaks by Tulane with a late-game score.

Nick Montana’s feet may be quick like Joe’s, but they won’t be quick enough to scamper by the SU defense.

Stephen Bailey Syracuse 30, Tulane 20 Riders on the storm Terrel Hunt cements himself as Syracuse’s starting quarterback with a strong lategame performance.

AT GEORGIA TECH

Oct. 19, TBD

9

10 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

AROUND THE ACC

A brief look at Syracuse’s new conference opponents HURRICANES BACK FOR MORE STORMING Few teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference made a statement as strong as Miami (Fla.) did in the opening weeks of the college football season.

On Sept. 7, the Hurricanes upset then-No. 12 Florida – UM’s in-state rival – 21-16 in a gritty home performance.

Quarterback Stephen Morris threw a couple of first-quarter touchdown passes to put Miami ahead early. As the Gators fought their way back

into the game in the fourth, the Hurricanes defense responded.

With less than four minutes remaining in the game, Tyriq McCord sacked Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel and knocked the ball loose, and the Hurricanes were first to jump on it.

Miami took over at the Gators’ 4-yard line and punched it in a few plays later to extend its lead.

The Gators have now dropped to No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, while the Hurricanes sit at No. 16. Miami hosts Savannah State

this weekend.

TIGERS POSE NATIONAL THREAT If there’s any ACC team that the rest of the league should fear, it’s Clemson.

In college football’s first marquee game of the season, the Tigers defended their home turf against then-No. 5 Georgia, which, a year ago, nearly upset eventual national champion Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game.

All of Clemson’s weapons were on display against the Bulldogs. Quarterback Tajh Boyd, who has already entered his name into the Heisman Trophy discussion, totaled 312 yards, three touchdowns in the air and two on the ground.

Running back Roderick McDowell averaged 6.0 yards per carry in a 132-yard performance.

Arguably most impressive of all was the speed Sammy Watkins showed off when he hauled in a pass from Boyd, trucked over a defensive back and out-sprinted the rest of the Georgia secondary for a 77-yard touchdown.

Although the Tigers’ No. 2 receiver, Charone Peake, just went down for the season with a torn ACL, expect No. 3 Clemson to remain the ACC favorite and a national contender down the stretch.

The Tigers opened ACC play at North Carolina State on Thursday night.

OFFENSE NOT AN ISSUE FOR SEMINOLES Even after losing E.J. Manuel, a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and now the Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback, Florida State’s offense hasn’t missed a beat.

A year ago, Manuel threw for nearly 3,400 yards with 23 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, leading FSU to a Discover Orange Bowl victory over Northern Illinois.

But this year, FSU has exploded out of the gate to score 103 points through just two games, blowout wins over Pittsburgh and Nevada, thanks in great part to quarterback Jameis Winston.

After 45 passing attempts, the 6-foot-4 true freshman has thrown more touchdowns than incomplete passes. His quarterback rating of 234.8 is easily the best in the conference and ranks second in the country.

In the Monday night matchup with the Panthers, Winston put on a clinic by completing 25-of-27 passes for 356 yards, four touchdown passes and not a single interception.

He’s also shown the ability to use his legs to make plays by rushing for two touchdowns thus far.

On Saturday, FSU returns to action when it hosts a 3-0 Bethune-Cookman team that is coming off a three-touchdown beating of Florida International.

MARYLAND OFF TO STRONG START Even in a conference with three Top 25 teams, unranked Maryland is the first ACC team to win three games this season.

The Terps cruised past Florida International and Old Dominion before taking on Connecticut, which took a 7-0 lead early in the game. But from there it was all UMD. After quarter one, Maryland outscored the Huskies 32-14 to keep its slate clean.

Quarterback C.J. Brown leads the ACC with 833 passing yards. He’s thrown six touchdown passes and ran for five, which are both tied for best in the league.

Stefon Diggs has emerged as Brown’s favorite target and has already become one of the conference’s top wideouts. The sophomore receiver has racked up 387 receiving yards, tops in the ACC, and his three touchdown receptions are tied for first.

But the Terps face their toughest opponent yet when they face West Virginia in Baltimore on Saturday.

—Compiled by Phil D’Abbraccio, asst. copy editor, pmdabbra@syr.edu

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

Syracuse must defeat Tulane to keep bowl hopes alive with tough ACC schedule ahead

S

By Trevor Hass ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

yracuse started last season 1-3, surrendering 118 points through four games. The future looked bleak, and with games against South Florida, Louisville and Missouri on the horizon, a bowl game appeared to be a longshot.

But the Orange won all three of those games, bouncing back from a sluggish start and finishing the regular season 7-5. Riding high into Yankee Stadium, Syracuse clobbered West Virginia 38-14 in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Orange completed a similar 1-3 turnaround in 1997 when Donovan McNabb sparked the Orange to a 9-4 record and a Big East regular-season championship.

The 1-3 start didn’t matter in ’97 or in 2012. Both of those teams were anchored by dominant, experienced quarterbacks and were chock-full of talented players. This year’s team has a shot to earn a bowl appearance, but it’s not capable of digging itself out of a 1-3 hole. At 1-2 now, Syracuse will need to beat Tulane on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome to keep its postseason hopes alive. Upcoming games against the likes of No. 3 Clemson and No. 8 Florida State make this tuneup crucial.

Syracuse running back Devante McFarlane bobbed his head when asked if this game is a must-win in order to make a bowl game.

“I believe so,” McFarlane said. “We should win this game, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

Listen, I hate the must-win deal as much as the next guy. Saying a baseball game in June is a must-win is preposterous. But in this case, this game is actually a must-win.

Because there are only 12 games in the college football season, even the fourth game of the season is critical.

Saturday’s matchup is a crossroads for Syracuse. Win, and SU is back at .500 entering conference play after a tough loss to Penn State and a sloppy performance against Northwestern. Lose, and the Orange is 1-3 and staring face-to-face with goliath Clemson in SU’s first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference game.

This game is pivotal and definitely winnable. Tulane lost to South Alabama. South Alabama lost to Southern Utah. Southern Utah lost by 38 to Washington State. You get the picture.

There’s nothing mind-blowingly impressive about the Green Wave. Syracuse is a 14.5-point favorite for a reason. Tulane throws the ball a lot. Its defense is OK. It plays a relatively easy schedule and Syracuse is one of its toughest tests.

For Syracuse, though, Tulane is one of its easiest opponents. On paper, it should be a win. After Tulane and a bye week, Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Tajh Boyd and Clemson come stomping into the Carrier Dome. Then SU travels down to North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. Both of those games will be in hostile environments against quality teams.

If SU is 1-6 heading into a home matchup with Wake Forest, a bowl game is out of the question with Florida State and Maryland on tap.

But Scott Shafer denied the notion that Saturday’s matchup is a must-win in order to make a bowl game.

“No,” Shafer said. “Every game’s a mustwin.”

Shafer has preached the philosophy “don’t you change” all season. He was proud of his defense and the entire team for staying resolute last season. Instead of altering its approach and getting discouraged, Syracuse

TREVOR HASS

with no regard for human life

stayed grounded and continued to do what it had been doing.

The results came in a whirlwind. This year, though, not changing will be difficult if Syracuse drops this game. Penciling in Clemson, NC State and Georgia Tech as losses, SU simply can’t afford to lose against Tulane.

In ’97, Syracuse had Keith Bulluck at linebacker and Quinton Spotwood at wide

receiver to help McNabb, who had his No. 5 jersey retired by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

In 2012, Ryan Nassib commanded an offense led by superb route runners Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales.

This year, the nucleus isn’t bad. Terrel Hunt glistened against Wagner, but that was Wagner. Jerome Smith and Ashton Broyld have been steady options to start the season, but the overall talent pool just isn’t enough, especially considering the talent SU is up against in the near future.

Don’t expect a Syracuse blowout on Saturday. The Green Wave isn’t great, but it ain’t too shabby, either. A win is all the Orange needs to keep its dream at a bowl appearance alive. tbhass@syr.edu @TrevorHass

OUT OF THE GATE SU’s starts to seasons haven’t necessarily coincided with how they end.

Year: 2007 Started: 1-3 Finished: 2-10

Year: 2010 Started: 3-1 Finished: 8-5

Year: 2008 Started: 1-3 Finished: 3-9

Year: 2011 Started: 3-1 Finished: 5-7

Year: 2009 Started: 2-2 Finished: 4-8

Year: 2012 Started: 1-3 Finished: 8-5

11

12 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

PERSPECTIVES by jesse dougherty | asst. copy editor photos by sam maller | asst. photo editor

Is Saturday a must-win game for Syracuse?

“The only win we’ve had so far is Wagner, which is a little sad. So we have to pick it up. New conference, new year, let’s go.”

Molly Smith

“Of course, we’re 1-2. If we want to compete in the ACC we need to prove ourselves.”

Austin Wentworth

SOPHOMORE FINANCE MAJOR

SOPHOMORE BROADCAST AND DIGITAL JOURNALISM AND FINANCE MAJOR

“Definitely. They beat Wagner and that doesn’t even count.”

Brandon Smorto SENIOR SELECTED STUDIES IN EDUCATION MAJOR

“Every game is a must win-for Syracuse.”

Amanda Hickok

FRESHMAN CHEMISTRY MAJOR

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

13

WHIRLWIND JOURNEY LANDS BABERS AT EASTERN ILLINOIS

By Sam Blum STAFF WRITER

Dino Babers didn’t think he would ever become a head coach. In the course of 27 years, Babers was an assistant at 12 different schools, teaching six different positions. His dream of being the leading man was dwindling with every snap.

“I always lived my life from a very young age to be a head football coach,” Babers said. “It was something that I always worked and strived to be. But after I left UCLA, I kind of gave up on that. I kind of said, ‘I’m getting too old, this is obviously not going to happen for me.’”

courtesy of eastern illinois athletics DINO BABERS has resurrected an EIU program that was struggling when he took over. Before EIU, he had never been a head coach in his 27-year coaching career.

It wasn’t until before the 2012 season that Babers finally got the call that would thrust him into a head coaching position. Bob Spoo was retiring after 25 years as the Eastern Illinois head coach, and the school wanted to interview Babers as a replacement. Babers had been on the staff for Spoo’s first season as head coach in 1987 and welcomed the consideration.

Last season, he inherited an EIU team that endured two consecutive 2-9 seasons. In his first season, the Panthers finished 7-5 and won the Ohio Valley Conference with a 6-1 in-conference record. A year later, Eastern Illinois is 3-0 and

SEE BABERS PAGE 16

No. Name 1 Ashton Broyld 2 Quinta Funderburk 2 Wayne Morgan 3 Durell Eskridge 3 Mitch Kimble 4 Brandon Reddish 5 Luke Arciniega 5 Austin Wilson 6 Ritchy Desir 7 Troy Green 7 Oliver Vigille 8 Drew Allen 8 Keon Lyn 9 Ri’Shard Anderson 10 Terrel Hunt 11 Marquis Spruill 12 Ryan Norton 13 Corey Winfield 14 John Kinder 15 Chauncey Scissum 16 Keenan Hale 17 Charley Loeb 18 Christopher Clark 18 Darius Kelly 19 Joe Nassib 20 Noah Douglas 20 Brisly Estime 21 Julian Whigham 22 Adrian Fleming 23 Prince-Tyson Gulley 24 Jaston George 25 Eric Jackson 25 Jeremiah Kobena 26 Josh Mims 27 Josh Kirkland 27 George Morris II 28 Jeremi Wilkes 29 Devante McFarlane 30 Steve Rene 31 Clay Cleveland 32 Travon Burke 33 Marqez Hodge 34 Adonis Ameen-Moore 35 Dyshawn Davis 36 Macauley Hill 37 Ross Krautman 38 Cameron Lynch 39 Eric Anthony 39 Greg Tobias 40 Zachary McCarrell 41 Lewellyn Coker 42 Jacob Green 42 Joe Stanard 43 Franklin Santos 45 Jerome Smith 46 Jonathan Fisher 47 Sam Rodgers 48 Eric Morris 49 Alryk Perry 50 Femi Aliyu 51 Donnie Simmons 52 Eric Crume 53 Lucas Albrecht 54 Kennedy Kodua 55 Marcus Coleman 55 Rob Trudo 56 John Miller 57 Omari Palmer 58 Hernz Laguerre 59 Macky MacPherson 60 Sean Hickey 64 Daniel Anyaegbunam 65 Jamar McGloster 67 Michael Lasker 68 Nick Robinson 69 Keith Mitsuuchi 70 Jesse Wolf-Gould 71 Alex Hayes 72 Ivan Foy 73 Jon Burton 74 Seamus Shanley 76 Kyle Knapp 77 Zian Jones 78 Jason Emerich 80 Tyler Provo 81 Alex Schoen 81 Ron Thompson 82 Alvin Cornelius 83 Sean Avant 84 Ben Lewis 85 Beckett Wales 86 PJ Batten 87 Kendall Moore 88 Jarrod West 89 Josh Parris 90 James Washington 91 Isaiah Johnson 92 Riley Dixon 92 Tyler Marona 93 Micah Robinson 94 Robert Welsh 95 Josh Manley 96 Jay Bromley 97 John Raymon 98 Trevon Trejo 99 Ryan Sloan

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

Pos. RB WR CB FS QB CB LB QB SS QB LB QB CB CB QB LB K WR WR DB WR QB WR DB CB DB WR CB WR RB CB DB WR DB LB RB FS RB RB FB FB LB FB LB WR K LB DB RB LB LB TE DB WR RB P LS LS LB LB DE NT DT DE NT OG OL OG LB C OT OT OL OL OG LS OG OL OG OL C OT NT C TE DB DE WR WR WR TE TE OL WR TE LB DL K/P DL DE DE DE DT DE DL DT

HT. 6-4 6-3 5-10 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-4 5-11 5-10 5-9 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-3 5-10 5-10 5-7 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-9 6-0 5-7 6-1 6-1 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-0 5-7 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-7 6-4 6-5 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-7 6-4 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6- 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-2

WT. 211 201 197 207 195 186 241 211 187 184 220 226 201 190 219 224 179 180 187 199 190 220 160 190 180 168 176 187 200 190 175 160 182 187 204 203 179 201 187 230 245 208 239 220 205 160 230 199 175 201 230 245 179 175 226 209 234 220 211 228 250 305 258 220 266 284 308 309 220 290 291 290 303 324 297 221 328 315 313 317 264 284 311 280 246 161 268 187 183 194 225 218 250 203 255 218 291 208 258 265 256 269 285 323 240 326

CL. So. Jr. So. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. RF Sr. RF Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. RF So. So. RF So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. So. RF Sr. RF Fr. Fr. RF RF Fr. RF Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. RF RF Fr. So. So. Jr. Jr. RF Sr. So. Jr. So.

Hometown/High School Rochester, N.Y./Rush Henrietta HS/ Milford Academy Norfolk, Va./Oscar F. Smith Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall Campus Miami, Fla./Miami Central Jerseyville, Ill./Jersey Community Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton Sparks, NV/Spanish Springs Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro North Miami Beach, Fla./North Miami Beach Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles Miami, Fla./Miami Central San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights Miramar, Fla./Miramar HS Miramar, Fla./American Heritage Rosedale, N.Y./ Christ the King Hillside, N.J./Hillside HS Garden City, N.Y./Garden City St. Louis, Mo./Riverview Gardens Inwood, N.Y./Lawrence HS West Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta Conyers, Ga./The McCallie School Hollis, N.H./Lawrence Academy Los Angeles, Calif./Venice/East LA College Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena Vista Newtown Square, Pa./The Haveford School Montclair, N.J./Montclair Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic Community West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer Ashburn, Va./Broad Run HS Akron, Ohio/Garfield Senior HS Chesapeake, Va./Oscar F. Smith Inglewood, Calif./Pacific Palisades Harlem, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham Paxico, Kan./St Mary’s Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic HS Wheatley Heights, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie HS Boxford, Mass./Phillips Academy Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran Miami, Fla./Miami Central Denver, Colo./Mullen Woodbury, N.J./Woodbury Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo HS Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker Sicklerville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker Providence, R.I./Classical HS Bear, Del./Pencader Charter Oakfield, N.Y./Oakfield-Alabama Central State College, Pa./Mercersburg Academy Simi Valley, Calif./Royal Columbus, Ala./Glenwood School Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin Hartsdale, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac Detroit, Mich./Detroit Central Hudson Falls, N.Y./Hudson Falls Bronx, N.Y./A. Phillip Randolph Voorhees, N.J./Camden Catholic Farrell, Pa./Farrell Carson, Calif./Redondo Union Coram, N.Y./Longwood Spring Valley, N.Y./Spring Valley Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional HS Schenectady, N.Y./Albany Academy Hillside, N.J./Saint Anthony’s Corona, Calif./Santiago Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker Torrance, Calif./South Torrance Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta Ellenwood, Ga./Tucker Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton Spotsylvania, Va./Courtland Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central Los Angeles, Calif./Eagle Rock HS/West Los Angeles College New Ringgold, Pa./Blue Mountain West Palm Beach, Fla./American Heritage School Short Hills, N.J./Millburn Southfield, Mich./Southfield Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville Miramar, Fla./Miramar Middletown, Md./Middletown Venice, Fla./Venice HS Miami, Fla./Dade Christian Chicago, Ill./Neal F. Simeon Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty HS Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park New Castle, Del./Eastern Christian Academy Blossvale, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy Pasadena, Calif./St. Francis Cleveland, Ohio/John Adams HS Bay Shore, N.Y./Saint Anthony’s HS College Park, Ga./Milton Jamaica, N.Y./Flushing Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North Long Beach, Calif./Milikan East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport

TULANE ROSTER

SYRACUSE ROSTER

14 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 43 44 44 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 54 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Name Pos. Powell, Devin QB Monroe, Darion S Grant, Ryan WR Nixon, Taurean CB LaBeau, Brandon S Doss, Lorenzo CB Williams, Edward LB Breaux, Devon WR Banks, Kedrick WR Davis, Leonard DB Montana, Nick QB Lee, Tanner QB Strozier, Derrick CB Batiste, Jordan CB Edwards, Marc WR Joseph, Jordy QB Nickerson, Parry CB Santos, Cairo K Marley, Nico LB Davis, Kyle LB Sullen, Jordan CB Allen, Richard CB Butler, Dante RB Rounds, Josh RB Darkwa, Orleans RB Carthon, Richard S Kelley, Rob RB O’Neill, Alex WR Cooper, Tristan DB Picerelli, Peter P Badie, Sherman RB Thompson, Lazedrick RB Franklin, Jarrod CB Scofield, Sam S Boutte, Devin WR Parker, L.J. CB Bronzo, Anthony S Townsend, Williams CB Bullock, Taylor LB Bryant, Aaron DE Wilson, Carlos WR Wadleigh, Marshall RB Gilbert, Tyler DE Macias, Alec WR Jackson, Luke DE Bailey, Matthew LB Medina, Sergio LB DeJean, Cameron LB LaFrance, Royce DE Godfrey, Brandon C Herman, Max LB Thomas, Eric LB Robinson, Andre DE Carroll, Quinlan DE Robertson, Dominique LB Davis, Zach LB Schmidt, Brandon LB Purcell, Brandon K Laborde, David LB Paine, Preston OL Hanson, Colton OL Broccoli, Steven P/K Spinelli, Casey K/P Henry, Mike C Morgan, Zach C Shienle, Nathan OG Bradley, Bob OG Uzdavinis, Arturo OT Ginsburgh, Jonathan P Donnelly, Sean OT Stewart, Jason OG Mares, Rio OG Paul, Alex OG Skidmore, Adam OG Taylor, Chris OG Skold, Nate OT Smart, Tanzel DT Jacquet, Todd OT Santa Marina, Kenneth OT Shackleford, Justyn WR London, Sydie TE Rush, Xavier WR Van Hooser, Fudge WR Dobbs, DoJo WR Dace, Larry WR Aruna, Ade DE Marfisi, Matt TE Vaughan, Thomas WR Peeples, Jeremy DE Washington, Eldrick DT Warmsley, Julius DE Welcome, Kenny DT Davenport, Chris DT Hilton, Logan P/K Redwine, Corey DT Lizanich, Michael DS Bell, Eric DT Thomas, Calvin DT

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

HT. 6-3 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-3 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-3 6-4 5-8 5-8 6-2 5-10 5-11 5-8 5-8 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-7 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-1 5-8 5-11 5-10 6-0 6-2 6-2 5-9 5-11 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-4 5-8 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 5-8 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-5 5-7 5-10 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-6 5-11 6-8 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-1 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-8 6-6 6-6 5-11 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-3

WT. 213 189 191 185 201 175 221 169 181 186 208 203 181 169 181 187 157 160 180 208 200 168 216 189 210 197 228 185 175 190 192 209 194 185 170 190 180 190 231 252 187 195 244 185 215 203 210 203 244 277 203 234 235 213 190 216 226 205 225 257 318 155 170 265 284 317 276 295 204 312 395 299 333 315 324 290 331 277 323 174 238 203 177 199 160 230 252 200 242 240 269 289 334 195 316 200 250 286

sep t em ber 2 0 -2 1, 2 013

CL. RF So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. RF RF Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. RF Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. RF Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. Jr. RF So. Fr. Sr. Sr. RF So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. RF Sr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. So.

Hometown New Orleans, La. O. Reserve, La. Beaumont, Texas Baton Rouge, La. New Orleans, La. New Orleans, La. New Orleans, La. Donaldsonville, La. New Orleans, La. LaPlace, La. San Francisco, Calif.

Destrehan, La. Orlando, Fla. Gramercy, Fla. New Orleans, La. New Iberia, La. Terrytown, La. St. Augustine, Fla. Weston, Fla. San Antonio, New Orleans, La. Metairie, La. New Orleans, La. New Orleans, La. Nashville, Tenn.

Shreveport, La. New Orleans,La. Waco, Texas Tampa, Fla. Warren, R.I. Metairie, La. LaPlace, La.St. Baton Rouge, La. Lafayette, La. New Iberia, La. Port Allen, La. West Harrison, N.Y. Miami, Fla. New Iberia, La. Katy, Texas Grambling, La. Pearl River, La. Sorrento, La. Miami, Fla. LaPlace, La. New Orleans, Boutte, La. Lafayette, La. Harvey, La. Kenner, La. Los Gatos, Calif.

Meraux, La. Longwood, Fla. Belle Chasse, La. Cypress, Texas Lawrenceville, Ga. Lafayette, La. Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Lafayette, La. Dallas, Texas New Braunfels, New York, N.Y. Covington, La. Marrero, La. Lake Charles, La. Tampa, Fla. Medford, N.J. Thonotosassa, Fla. Alexandria, La. Pelham, N.Y. New Orleans, La. Corrales, N.M. New Orleans, La. Bayville, N.J. Baker, La. Omaha, Neb. Baton Rouge, La. Harvey, La. New Orleans, La. Decatur, Ga. New Orleans, La. Terry, Miss.

Montgomery, Ala. Washington, D.C. New Orleans, La. La Porte, Ind. Tomball, Texas Morganville, Selma, Ala. Harvey, La. Baton Rouge, La. New Orleans, La. Mansfield, La. Alexandria, La. Atlanta, Ga. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Harvey, La. Chandler, Ariz.

High School Perry Walker East St. John West Brook Southern Lab McMain St. Augustine Warren Easton Donaldsonville McDonogh 35 East St. John Oaks Christian Jesuit Edgewater Lutcher St. Augustine New Iberia West Jefferson St. Joseph’s Academy Cypress Bay TexasRonald Reagan Edna Karr John Curtis Christian Brother Martin McMain The Ensworth School C.E. Byrd O. Perry Walker Reicher Catholic Plant LaSalle Academy John Curtis Christian Charles Catholic University Lab St. Thomas More Catholic Port Allen Fordham Prep Norland Catholic Seven Lakes Ruston Northshore John Curtis Christian Belen Jesuit St. Charles Catholic La.Edna Karr Hahnville St. Thomas More Helen Cox John Curtis Christian Los Gatos John Curtis Christian Lyman Belle Chasse Cypress Woods Collins Hill St. Thomas More Phoenix Country Day St. Thomas More Jesuit Texas New Braunfels Fordham Prep St. Paul’s John Curtis Christian Sam Houston Plant Shawnee Jesuit Holy Savior Menard Central Trinity Pawling School Warren Easton Cibola Isadore Newman Central Regional Zachary Westside Scotlandville Magnet Jesuit McDonogh 35 Berkmar St. Augustine Terry Trinity Presbyterian Walt Whitman St. Augustine La Lumiere Tomball N.J.Red Bank Catholic Selma Helen Cox St. Michael McDonogh 35 Mansfield Holy Savior Menard Central Creekside Pinnacle West St. John Hamilton

15

16 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

SANTOS FROM PAGE 4

again. He didn’t want to go through the different process of picking a different family. He was very comfortable with us,” Burnett said. “His dad was very adamant that if he wanted to get good in business, he needed to learn English on a very intimate level.

“We consider him our son.”

BABERS F ROM PAGE 13

ranked eighth in the Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision poll, while boasting the division’s most high-powered offense.

“This blessing just kind of came upon me,” Babers said. “I decided I had to do it. When they offered me the job, the crazy thing is I had to take a major pay cut. This is the only time I didn’t tell my wife I was going to take a job. I took the job on faith, and said that this was going to work out.”

After leaving UCLA in 2007, Babers was hired to be the wide receivers coach at Baylor. It was there that Babers experienced a moment that rejuvenated his career.

Babers was involved in a life-threatening car crash, one that he said made him rethink his life.

“After that, everything in my life changed, from a spiritual standpoint, and everything else,” Babers said. “I just decided that I wasn’t going to settle. I wasn’t going to settle in my spiritual life, I wasn’t going to settle in my marriage, and I wasn’t going to settle on the football field.”

Though now Babers said the team is brimming with confidence, that wasn’t the case when he first arrived.

“I thought it was a situation where we’d

sports@ da ilyor a nge.com

Though Santos stayed in Florida for his kicking ability, Western Kentucky and Miami (Ohio) were the only schools besides Tulane that offered him a football scholarship. He also turned down a soccer scholarship from Gardner-Webb.

Tulane is glad it took that chance. Lamb, the special teams coach, said he thinks very highly of Santos. He said that while Santos is a great teammate and friend, he is also very competitive and is zoned in during games.

He noted that in last week’s win over Louisiana Tech, Santos made a 51-yard field goal despite a high snap and one of his teammates getting on the field late.

“Cairo just kept his cool throughout the whole thing,” Lamb said. “He came over to the sidelines and just said, ‘Let’s get the kickoff team going.’ It was just business as usual.”

On Saturday, Santos will take the field under far different circumstances. Burnett said that although Santos’ father never quite grasped the

have to go into a rebuilding stage, and rebuild the foundation of this program,” Babers said. “But once I got inside the program, what I found was splintered personalities. I found people that didn’t have faith in themselves, they didn’t really believe in what they were doing. I felt all I had to do was change their belief.”

When he first came in, he said, many people speculated that he would need to make a quarterback change. Jimmy Garoppolo was coming off an abysmal year.

But Babers said he knew Garoppolo, now a senior, would be starting behind center the moment he saw him throw.

“I can’t tell you why he thought that as soon as he saw me,” Garoppolo said. “Obviously I did something right. I think he made the right decision. I’ve had success in the program that’s he’s brought in with the Baylor offense. I love the system that he brought in.”

Garoppolo immediately became statistically the best quarterback in the OVC. He passed for 3,823 yards and 31 touchdowns. In just three games this season he already has 14 touchdowns, matching his freshman total.

He’s averaged 427 yards of passing per game.

His primary target is Erik Lora, a redshirt senior. Lora led the team in receptions

in 2010 with 50. After sitting out 2011, he collected 136 catches in 2012, hauling in 12 touchdowns. Lora credits Babers as the catalyst for regrouping a program that had gotten complacent under Spoo.

“We just went through kind of a rough patch,” Lora said. “The team and the program were kind of on the left foot. When coach Babers came in here he really brought some order back. Babers is in your face and tells you how he wants it done. He brought a real sense of urgency.”

On Saturday, the Panthers will travel to play at Northern Illinois. Last season the Huskies earned a Bowl Championship Series bowl berth out of the Mid-American Conference. And though now Babers said he hopes to set the foundation for the next 25 years, much like Spoo did before him, he’s open to one day having the opportunity to compete for a BCS bowl himself.

“After my accident, I’m led a different way. He tells me where to go,” Babers said, referencing his connection with God. “He tells me who to coach. And if he wants me to stay here, I’ll stay. And if he opens another opportunity to go somewhere else, then that’s his will. I’m following him.” sblum@syr.edu

importance of football, he was behind his son no matter what.

“When Cairo won the Lou Groza Award, his family came over and had no idea, even to that day, that football was such a big deal,” Burnett said. “It was really exciting to them.

“Up until that point soccer was still king as far as his parents were concerned. They were always supportive of whatever Cairo wanted to do, or what he needed to do to make it work.” sblum@syr.edu

HEISMAN FROM PAGE 6

per carry, and his 889 passing yards aren’t too shabby either. Couple that with the fact that he has yet to throw an interception, and it’s not a stretch to call Mariota the leading Heisman candidate so far.

TODD GURLEY

42 carries, 286 yards, 3 TD

It wouldn’t be a Heisman watch list without at least one running back. The only one that fits the bill thus far has been Gurley. The sophomore did all he could to will the Bulldogs to a Week 1 win against Clemson, but it couldn’t be done. His four touchdowns — three rushing, one receiving — weren’t enough to get them over the hump, but they did open some eyes.

His 143-yard per game average is even more impressive given that his competition has been two Top-10 teams. The Heisman could be difficult to obtain for Gurley in a season where quarterbacks are kings.

A couple more standout performances, though, and Gurley might run himself into serious Heisman consideration.

—Compiled by Sam Blum, staff writer, sblum@syr.edu